Short Shift Kits Questions

asudds · 01-15-2003, 04:51 PM

Has anyone on the list purchased a short shift kit for their car?

Who sells SS for the 944 Series

What are some of the best SS kits available for our cars.

I need to replace my shift knob and shifter bushings, thought I
might as
well upgrade to a SS kit at that time as well.

Aaron Sudds
1987 924S, 944S, 911 cab

sasquatch · 01-15-2003, 06:47 PM

I built a copy of the Performance Products short shift kit when I was installing my S2 gearbox in the 87. I used all stainless heim joints and the proper shouldered bolts throuout. My throw is about 40% shorter and I would never own another 944 without this mod.

I feel that the PP kit would be close to as good as mine except for the fact that I even replaced my stabilizer rod (goes accross top of transmission from shift linkage) with an adjustable rod and heim joints.

There is zero play in the mechanism. My shifter feels like it is gated.

Pelican may have these kits as well.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

please explain why this is such an important improvement. i have trouble justifying the price, and maybe if you explained it, i might understand better.

XJOSHX · 01-15-2003, 09:36 PM

I know that speed force racing sells a short shifter for 100 bucks. I don't know anyone that has tried it but I have heard good reviews on every other product they make. I am not sure if their shifter is shorting in apearance or true has a shorter throw. check it out. www.speedforceracing.com

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

Can we have some pictures of your modifications?
Thanks
Ahmet

sasquatch · 01-16-2003, 05:32 AM

Now that I have a digital camera, I'll have to get under there and see if I can get a couple of photos.

If the stock system is in good shape, all that you will gain is about a 40% shorter throw between gears.

With the way I built mine, I replaced all of the rubber gromets with SS heim joints so there is zero play. The shifter is extreemly precise. The feel of it snicking into the gears is much enhanced. I did not notice any real vibration increase like I thought though.

If I had to purchase this product retail for the price that they are charging, I probably would pass. There are much better places to drop a bill. But, since I have a full machine shop at my disposal...I built it for around $30 in parts. The joints and shouldered bolts were all sourced from McMaster Carr.

My next project is to do the same to my 914.....

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

"please explain why this is such an important improvement. i have trouble justifying the price, and maybe if you explained it, i might understand better."

anyone?

sasquatch · 01-16-2003, 08:51 AM

CJFusco, I explained it in my previous post, here let me say it plainly.

-> 40% shorter throws
-> Much more precise feel
-> Cool factor

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Well the throws in a 944 aren't exactly long or imprecise to begin with, so I honestly don't really see the point. Perhaps if I drove a car outfitted with this? Is it really that noticable? Does it make a huge difference in drivability and/or fun?

scottmandue · 01-16-2003, 09:50 AM

sasquatch,
Very interesting, a digital picture would help for those of us who are "mechanically challenged".

I will dig up our McMaster Carr and look up heim joints and shoulder bolts in an attempt to edumakate mieselph!

Thanks,
Scotticus Maximus

Another944kid · 01-16-2003, 09:57 AM

Hey Sasquatch, would you be interested in reproducing your kit and reselling it at a price you thought was fair? Either that, or possibly explain, because I have access to "friend's" in a machine shop, and with a slight plan, I could have some made possibly. If it's anything like the shifters on the FWD cars I've owned, you just add longer material to the bottom of the rod, is this the same setup? Also, where did you find the bushings?

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Technically what a short shift unit does is to replace the back end of the shift linkage with shorter travel (radius) arms. There is a side to side arm that selects the gears and the fore and aft arm that engages the selected gear. Here's a picture of the stock set up. What Jay did was to replace the rubber bushed shoulder bolts on the top arm with steel ball joints.

The short shifter unit replaces entire end of the linkage (that's the section the engagement arm bolts to), the cross over link and the lower cast arm (the engagement arm).

I do think that the shift lever and it's support socket could be modified and provide close to the same utility with out having to crawl under the car.

I do like the idea of replacing the cross over arm with stainless ball joints.

PS: That's an open end wrench you see to the left on the hex head bolt.

sasquatch · 01-16-2003, 10:40 AM

I thought about reproducing the kit, but I would be up where the other kits are in price, so I would not have any edge. I will take some photos when I get home tonight and post them tomorrow. I ended up replacing everything that is in the photo above. There was considerable trial and error as well. My kit is not pretty, but extreemly functional.

Another944kid · 01-16-2003, 11:29 AM

Can you buy the ball joints anywhere, and would the likelyhood of them popping off be a concern? The ball joint method is what I've seen alot of H20 VW people do, I just haven't really thought about doing it myself till now.

sasquatch · 01-16-2003, 11:37 AM

I am using actual heim joints and shoulderd bolts. These will not pop off since they are bolted through. I sourced all of my parts throught McMaster Carr. They are all metric and stainless steel.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

One needs to have an established account at McMasters. Unless they have changed their policy. Getting an account is like pulling tortoise teeth. One of my most prized books is a McMasters catalog.

Depending on where you live there might be an industrial hardware supply that you can order small quantities from. Also try to find a local supplier called Kaman Bearings. Or anything non musical in the industrial section of the business to business yellow pages.

scottmandue · 01-16-2003, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCal Driver
One needs to have an established account at McMasters. Unless they have changed their policy. Getting an account is like pulling tortoise teeth. One of my most prized books is a McMasters catalog.

I'm going to check with McMaster, I got the impression if you can walk into one of their stores (we have them here is S. Cal) any dork could buy stuff. I hope so because my continually put off "garage clean up project" involves purchasing a large number of plastic bins to organize a small mountain of nuts/bolts/screws/nails/electrical/construction/plumbing/painting/audio equipment/automotive/motorcycle stuff from a collection of cardboard boxes/paper cups/coffee cans. The bins I saw at Homo depo could be torn apart by a six month old baby.

robm-951 · 01-16-2003, 04:32 PM

Quote:

I'm going to check with McMaster, I got the impression if you can walk into one of their stores (we have them here is S. Cal) any dork could buy stuff.

I've ordered stuff from them over the phone with a credit card. They also have a web page at:

http://www.mcmaster.com/

as far as a catalog goes, while it is tough to get a printed version, they will give out a cd version without much of a fuss.

Rob

marksportcts · marksportcts's Garage

I have pretty well the same mods as Sasquach. I have the GPR short shift kit on the tranny, which is a copy of the Autothority, the DST link bar that replaces the factory sheet metal unit, and lastly the billet shifter by David Harrington. The shifting is quite close even when set wider/longer positions, and a bit tight. And the billet shifter sometimes rattles when cruising.